Pets are Thankful
for Pet Sitters!
Wishbones for Pets
This
year, thanks to Janet Depathy, founder of Wishbones for Pets, pet
sitters throughout the USA, and Canada, will be collecting food
and other goods for pets in need. The first of it's kind, it's a
way for pet sitters to give back to the community. She and I spoke
recently and what follows is a brief rundown of the program.
This
little beauty's name is Dixie, and from the looks of
it she's a complete camera ham! Behind those big, beautiful
eyes though, there's bound to be a fun-loving, mischief
maker! It's our guess that Dixie keeps her human friend,
Sara, on her toes!
Does our next pet of the month live in your home? Let
us know! Email a picture of your pet, and be sure
to tell us a little bit about him or her.
What
exactly is Wishbones for Pets?
Wishbones for Pets is a new signature event designed exclusively
for professional pet sitters who wish to host a charity program
by collecting pet goods for a local shelter in their own community.
How
did the idea for Wishbones for Pets come about?
In 2004, I wanted to celebrate my tenth year in business by giving
something back to the community. Offering a pet charity drive
for our local shelter seemed like a good idea and to make it really
special I decided to give it a name. Living in America's Hometown,
Plymouth, MA - rich in history associated with Thanksgiving -
inspired me to come up with a name in conjunction with Thanksgiving
and to symbolize HOPE for the sheltered pets. The wishbone has
been a symbol of fun at Thanksgiving and hope that our wish would
come true by holding the piece with the larger stem once snapped...and
so Wishbones for Pets was born.
How
successful was your first year?
I had nine businesses sponsored the event by accepting donations
- all the veterinarians in town as well as pet stores, a feed
store, and even my hairdresser! At the end of six weeks I had
collected $300 in cash and over $1,000 in food and other pet items.
Puppy in
Danger finds
Forever Home
I
want to tell you about a rescue of a lovable little
3 month old puppy. Ruth saw a puppy tethered with a
short leash on a 3 foot high deck. If the puppy would
have fallen off the deck he would have hung himself.
She asked the owner if she could have the puppy. The
owner seemed to be happy go get rid of the puppy.
Ruth
immediately took the puppy to a "doggie wash"
where the puppy received a flea bath (yes, he had fleas)
and a toe nail trim. Then off to the vet for a check
up. The vet gave the puppy a clean bill of health. After
a few days, Ruth found a good home for the puppy with
a family that just happened to be looking for a puppy
to keep their other dog company.
Do you have a heart warming rescue story? Email
us and let us know!
"We
frequently see food drives for people at this time of year and
saw a need for a food drive for pets."
How
many pet sitters are participating this year?
It's hard to say. There are several pet sitting networks involved
and they may have 50+ members. My best guess would be around
200 offering the program for the first year, including Canada.
Who
chooses the charities that are helped?
With the approval of both parties (pet sitter & charity)
individual pet sitters/their companies/networks select a charity
within their community to work with.
What
are your future goals for the program?
Since our industry is so new it seems appropriate we help
pets that are less fortunate than our own and the ones we
care for. The goals for this program are for the general public
to be reminded of shelter needs, to bring an awareness of
pets needing adoption, and that the pet sitting industry can
work together to effect a strong positive change in our communities.
Offering Wishbones for Pets recognizes the business and social
value of community involvement.
How
do the pet sitting businesses benefit?
Publicity for the individual pet sitting service
A public awareness of this industry
Publicity for the sponsors
Retail
traffic and potential sales increases for the drop off stations/sponsors
Community responsibility showcased
A charity receives the needed donations
How
does the pet sitter benefit?
First and foremost, self-fulfillment - the feeling you get knowing
that you have done something significant to help others.
What are the business benefits? This program also enables pet
sitters to significantly increase their public profile by informing
the community of the fundraiser for a pet related charity and
brings an awareness of their own services.
What
are the dates for the food drive?
The dates for the US are approximately six weeks prior to
Thanksgiving. In Plymouth, MA it will run from October 15th
to November 30th. In Canada they celebrate Thanksgiving in
October so the program runs a month earlier.
With
the holidays just around the corner, many of us are
busy planning our holiday getaways and family get togethers.
Be sure to include your pets in those plans too! Whether
you'll be traveling or staying at home, be sure your
home is pet proofed so that holiday decorations don't
look so tempting that they just have to get their paws
or teeth into them. The last thing you need is a trip
to the vet's during the holidays!
Are you a pet sitter with a great tip for pet owners?
Email
us and let us know.
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